Multi-way valve as well as actuator comprising such a multi-way valve

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a multi-way valve including a control pressure channel, a first control fluid channel between a first opening and the control pressure channel, a second control fluid channel between a second opening and the control pressure channel, a valve body in the first and second control fluid channels, and an electrically controlled device having a drive member and an armature. The armature moves axially according to the drive member between inactive and active positions. Movement of the armature from inactive to active displaces the valve body arrangement to an active position where the first control fluid channel is closed and the second control fluid channel is open. The device further includes a drive body connected to the armature and a spring between the armature and drive body. The drive body abuts the valve body and the spring in a compressed state when the armature is in active position.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a multi-way valve that isconfigured to communicate at least one adjustable control pressure to apiece of equipment, a machine, an apparatus, etc. The present inventionrelates specifically to a multi-way valve for serving an actuatorsuitable for axial displacement of an object.

The inventive multi-way valve comprises a control pressure channel, afirst control fluid channel extending between a first opening and saidcontrol pressure channel, a second control fluid channel extendingbetween a second opening and said control pressure channel, a valve bodyarrangement arranged in said first control fluid channel and in saidsecond control fluid channel, and an electrically controlled devicehaving a drive member and an armature. The armature is displaceable backand forth under the effect of said drive member between an inactiveposition and an active position, wherein the multi-way valve isconfigured by means of the movement of the armature from the inactiveposition to the active position to displace the valve body arrangementto an active position where the first control fluid channel is closedand the second control fluid channel is open, and the electricallycontrolled device further comprising a drive body connected to saidarmature and a spring member arranged between the armature and saiddrive body.

According to a second aspect the present invention relates to anactuator for axial displacement of an object. The actuator isspecifically suggested to be used as a gas exchange valve actuator forinternal combustion engines, where the actuator drives one or more inletvalves or outlet valves which controls the supply and evacuation,respectively, of air relative to the cylinders of the internalcombustion engine. Thus, the inventive actuator is especially suitablefor driving engine valves and thereby eliminates the need for one ormore cam shafts in the internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

Multi-way valves having a valve body arrangement that is displaced bymeans of an electrically controlled device are known for severalapplications. In a first state of the multi-way valve a first opening isin fluid communication with a control pressure channel and in a secondstate of the multi-way valve a second opening is in fluid communicationwith the control pressure channel. In this way alternation between twodifferent control pressure levels is possible.

Reference may for instance be made to document US 2007/193639 disclosingsuch a multi-way valve having a valve body arrangement of slide valvetype. However, this type of multi-way valve is not suitable inapplications having high control fluid pressures, such as 20-25 Bar, dueto unwanted leakage of control fluid past the valve body arrangementleading to unprecise levels of the control pressure driving/serving theequipment, machine, apparatus, etc.

An attempt to try to master the problem of leakage is disclosed indocument DE 3621559 describing a multi-way valve having a valve bodyarrangement of seat valve type. A great disadvantage with knownmulti-way valves comprising valve body arrangements of seat valve typeis that the entire mass of the armature of the solenoid and the valvebody arrangement rebounds against the valve seat during a long period oftime in connection with change of state, leading to unprecise change ofstate and draught/change of state leakage, which in its turn leads tounprecise levels of the control pressure driving/serving the equipment,machine, apparatus, etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,631 disclose a multi-way valve comprising a controlpressure channel and two control fluid channels, a valve body driven bya drive unit, which comprises an armature and a drive member that isconfigured to displace the armature back and forth. The drive unitcomprises a drive body connected to said armature and a spring memberarranged between the armature and the drive body. A seal/guide membershall be arranged between the valve body and the drive body. Thismulti-way valve comprises a very large and heavy valve body that willtake long time to stop after it has been displaced to the respectivedead centres. The object of the drive body and the spring is solely tocompensate for tolerance deviations between the length of stroke of thearmature and the length of stroke of the valve body.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at obviating the above-mentioned drawbacksand shortcomings of previously known multi-way valves suitable forserving an actuator for axial displacement of an object, and to providean improved multi-way valve. A basic object of the invention is toprovide an improved multi-way valve of the initially defined type, whichhas a distinct change of state of the valve body arrangement, which inits turn lead to increased precision of the equipment, machine,apparatus, etc., that the multi-way valve serve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-way valve,which entails that the valve body arrangement has a shorter length ofstroke, which in its turn lead to a more compact design, and a fasterand more distinct change of state as well as lower energy consumption ofthe electrically controlled device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-way valvethat has lower tolerance demands regarding the valve body arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention at least the basic object is achieved by wayof initially defined multi-way valve and actuator, which have thefeatures defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are further defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a multi-way valveof the initially defined type is provided, which is characterized inthat the drive body is arranged in said first control fluid channel, thedrive body being configured to abut the valve body arrangement and thespring member being in a compressed state when the armature is locatedin the active position. According to a second aspect of the presentinvention an actuator suitable for axial displacement of an object isprovided, which is characterized in that the actuator comprises aninventive multi-way valve.

Thus, the present invention is based on the insight that by decreasingthe mass of the part, i.e. the armature and the valve body arrangement,that closes the first control fluid channel when the multi-way valvechange from the inactive state to the active state, the change over timewill be decreased proportionately. Thereto, the change over time whenthe multi-way valve changes from the active state to the inactive statewill also decrease.

It is an advantage not to have intermediate elements between the drivebody and the valve body. Intermediate elements increase the weight thatshall be displaced and above all quickly stop after the displacement.Having the drive body arranged in the first control fluid channelentails that the drive member must not work against the pressure presentin the first control fluid channel when the armature and the drivemember shall be displaced.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thearmature comprises in the free end thereof a cavity housing said drivebody and said spring member.

According to a preferred embodiment the valve body arrangement comprisesa first valve body arranged in said first control fluid channel and asecond valve body arranged in said second control fluid channel, whereinthe multi-way valve is configured by means of the movement of thearmature from the inactive position to the active position to displacethe first valve body to an active position in which the first controlfluid channel is closed and to displace the second valve body to anactive position in which the second control fluid channel is open.

Further advantages of and features of the invention are evident from theother dependent claims and from the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments.

FURTHER ELUCIDATION OF PRIOR ART

Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,203 disclose a multi-way valve. Themulti-way valve comprises a valve housing comprising a plurality offluid ports extending from an outer surface of the valve housing to acentral bore. An interconnected valve body arrangement (comprising aspool, valve members and spring housings) is arranged to be displacedback and forth in the central bore by means of two interchangeablyactivated solenoids. Each solenoid comprises an armature, and springsmembers are arranged between the valve body arrangement and thearmatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the abovementioned and other featuresand advantages of the present invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments with referenceto the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an inventive multi-way valve, anactuator and a gas exchange valve,

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a multi-way valve according to afirst embodiment, where the multi-way valve is in the inactive state,

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the multi-way valve according toFIG. 2, where the multi-way valve is in the active state,

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a multi-way valve according to asecond embodiment, where the multi-way valve is in the active state,

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a multi-way valve according to athird embodiment, where the multi-way valve is in the active state, and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a multi-way valve according to aforth embodiment, where the multi-way valve is in the active state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a multi-way valve, generally designated1, suitable for serving an actuator 2 in order to provide an axialdisplacement of an object 3, as well as relates to an actuator 2comprising such a multi-way valve 1.

Reference is initially made to FIG. 1, which schematically discloses afirst embodiment of the inventive multi-way valve 1, an actuator 2 and agas exchange valve 3 of an internal combustion engine. It shall bepointed out that the mutual size of the units is not to scale. It shallalso be pointed out that despite the multi-way valve 1 is drawn locatedoutside the actuator 2, which is fully conceivable, still it ispreferred to have the multi-way valve 1 located entirely or partlywithin the actuator 2.

The multi-way valve 1 is configured to communicate an adjustable controlpressure to the actuator 2 (or to any other suitable equipment, machine,apparatus, etc.), whereupon the actuator 2 perform a displacement of theobject 3 (for instance the engine valve). The multi-way valve 1 is alsoknown under the name pilot valve. The actuator 2 is preferably aso-called pneumatic actuator driven by a gas or gas mixture.

The essential features of the multi-way valve 1 will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 that disclose the first embodiment ofthe multi-way valve 1, in an inactive state and in an active state,respectively.

The multi-way valve 1 is electrically controlled and comprises a valvehousing 4 and a control pressure channel 5 that extend from said valvehousing 4 and that is configured to be connected to the actuator 2. Themulti-way valve 1 is configured to communicate an adjustable controlpressure (CP) via said control pressure channel 5. When the multi-wayvalve 1 is in a first state a first control pressure is communicated tothe control pressure channel 5 and when the multi-way valve 1 is in asecond state a second control pressure is communicated to the controlpressure channel 5. Thereby an alternation between two different controlpressure levels is obtained. By electrically controlled means that themulti-way valve 1 comprises an electrically controlled device, generallydesignated 6. The electrically controlled device is preferablyconstituted by an electro magnetic device, such as a solenoid, or aelectro mechanical device, such as a piezo electric unit. Theelectrically controlled device comprises a drive member 7 and anarmature 8, the armature 8 being displaceable back and forth under theeffect of said drive member 7 between an inactive position (FIG. 2) andan active position (FIG. 3). When the drive member 7 of the electricallycontrolled device 6 is not live the armature 8 is located in theinactive position and when the drive member 7 is live the armature 8 isdisplaced to the active position. In the embodiment of theelectromagnetic device the drive member 7 is constituted by a coil andthe armature 8 is displaceable in relation to said coil 7 under theeffect of the magnetic field created when current is conducted throughthe coil. The armature 8 is thus manufactured from a magnetic material.In the embodiment of an electromechanical device (not disclosed) thedrive member 7 is for instance constituted by a piezoelectric member andthe armature 8 is displaceable by means of said piezoelectric membersince it changed shape due to applied current and thereby mechanicallydisplaces the armature 8. Herein below the multi-way valve will bedescribed comprising an electromagnetic device 6, without being limitedthereto.

The armature 8 according to the disclosed embodiment has a firstbrim/flange 9 a that abut a first stop surface 10 a when the armature 8is located in the inactive position, and a second brim/flange 9 b thatabut a second stop surface 10 b when the armature 8 is located in theactive position, i.e. the multi-way valve 1 comprises mechanical deadcentre stop for the armature 8 in order to provide a well definedinactive position and active position, respectively. A rubber damper(not disclose) is preferably arranged at the interface between the firstbrim 9 a of the armature 8 and the first stop surface 10 a and/or at theinterface between the second brim 9 b and the second stop surface 10 b,in order to stop the armature 8 by preventing that the armature 8rebounds as well as minimizing noise and wear. Thereto, a spring member(not disclosed) may bias the armature 8 in the direction towards itsinactive position in order to return the armature 8 when the multi-wayvalve 1 is currentless/dead. The spring member is preferably arrangedbetween the second brim 9 b of the armature 8 and the second stopsurface 10 b, and when the armature 8 takes the active position thespring member bottom. However, it is conceivable that when the multi-wayvalve 1 is oriented as shown in the figures the armature 8 takes itsinactive position due to gravity. The multi-way valve 1 furthercomprises a first control fluid channel 11, extending between a firstopening 12 and said control pressure channel 5, a second control fluidchannel 13, extending between a second opening 14 and said controlpressure channel 5.

Preferably the first control fluid channel 11 is constituted by acontrol fluid outlet channel, and the first opening 12 is constituted bya control fluid outlet. The first opening 12 is configured to beconnected to a pressure fluid sink (LP). Preferably the second controlfluid channel 13 is constituted by a control fluid inlet channel, andthe second opening 14 is constituted by a control fluid inlet. Thesecond opening 14 is configured to be connected to a pressure fluidsource (HP). The pressure fluid is preferably a gas or gas mixture, suchas air.

The pressure fluid source may be a compressor that belongs to theinternal combustion engine and with or without a belonging tank, or onlya pressure tank. The pressure fluid sink may be any point with a lowerpressure than the one generated in the pressure fluid source, forexample a conduit leading back to the compressor, the pressure fluidsink (LP) has for example a pressure of 4-6 Bar, and the pressure fluidsource (HP) has for example a pressure of 15-25 Bar.

The multi-way valve 1 comprises a valve body arrangement, generallydesignated 15, arranged in the valve housing 4, more precisely arrangedin said first control fluid channel 11 and in said second control fluidchannel 13. The expression arranged in said first control fluid channel11 is meant that the valve body arrangement 15 is configured to controlthe flow of control fluid in the first control fluid channel 11 past thelocation of the valve body arrangement 15, i.e. arranged to open andclose, respectively, the first control pressure channel 11. It shall berealized that the same also is applicable for the second control fluidchannel 13. The valve body arrangement 15 is preferably manufacturedfrom acid-proof steel, even thus other materials having higher as wellas lower resistance against wear are conceivable.

The multi-way valve 1 is configured by means of the movement of thearmature 8 from the inactive position to the active position to displacethe valve body arrangement 15 to an active position where the firstcontrol fluid channel 11 is closed and the second control fluid channel13 is open. Thus the first control fluid channel 11 is open and thesecond control fluid channel 13 is closed when the valve bodyarrangement 15 is located in its inactive position, and the firstcontrol fluid channel 11 is closed and the second control fluid channel13 is open when the valve body arrangement 15 is located in its activeposition.

In the disclosed embodiment the valve body arrangement 15 is biased inthe direction towards its inactive position, in which the second controlfluid channel 13 is closed and the first control fluid channel 11 isopen, by means of a spring 16. However, it is conceivable that when themulti-way valve 1 is oriented as is disclosed in the figures the valvebody arrangement 15 takes its inactive position due to gravity.

It is essential for the present invention that the electricallycontrolled device 6 comprises a drive body 17 connected to said armature8 and a spring member 18 arranged between the armature 8 and said drivebody 17. The drive body 17 is configured to abut the valve bodyarrangement 15 and the spring member 18 is in a compressed state whenthe armature 8 is located in the active position. The spring member 18admit mutual axial displacement between the drive body 17 and thearmature 8, at the same time as the drive body 17 is biased in thedirection away from the armature 8.

When the armature 8 is located in the inactive position the drive body17 may be located at a distance from the valve body arrangement 15.According to a non-disclosed embodiment the armature 8 is biased in thedirection towards the valve body arrangement 15 when the armature 8 islocated in the inactive position, i.e. the drive body 17 abut the valvebody arrangement 15 without displacing the valve body arrangement 15 inthe direction towards its active position.

When the armature 8 is located in the inactive position the springmember 18 is expanded in relation to the compressed state when thearmature 8 is located in the active position, however it is notnecessary that the spring member 18 is expanded to an entirely unloadedstate. The spring member 18 is preferably constituted by a helicalspring. According to the most preferable embodiment the spring member 18is biased when the armature 8 is in the inactive position and the springelement 18 is in expanded state. The degree of bias shall preferably byhigh enough to start to displace the valve body arrangement 15 directlyupon contact between the drive body 17 and the valve body arrangement 15without having the spring member 18 compressed, and when the valve bodyarrangement 15 takes its active position the spring member 15 starts tocompress. In other words, the armature 8 and the drive body 17 have theeffect of a “solid” unit when the valve body arrangement 15 is displacedfrom the inactive position to the active position, and when the valvebody arrangement 15 takes the active position the drive body 17 isdisconnected from the armature 8 and the spring member 18 is compressed.When the valve body arrangement 15, driven by the drive body 17, reachesthe active position in which the first control fluid channel 12 isclosed the armature 8 continues a further distance, until the secondbrim 9 b of the armature 8 abut directly or indirectly the second stopsurface 10 b, whereupon the spring 18 is tighten/compressed. Thearmature 8 shall not abut the valve body arrangement 15, and the springmember 18 shall not bottom.

Due to the mass of the drive body 17 being much less than the mass ofthe armature 8, preferably less than 1/30, most preferably less than1/40, the time it takes for the drive body and the valve bodyarrangement 15 to settle, i.e. when the valve body arrangement 15 isstanding still in the active position and the first control fluidchannel 11 is closed, is significantly reduced. Thus, by using the drivebody 17 and the spring 18 to drive the valve body arrangement 15 insteadof having the armature 8 acting directly against the valve bodyarrangement 15, the time from the first rebound to standing still isdecreased in proportion to the weight relationship between the drivebody 17 and the armature 8.

The time from first rebound to standing still, based on the presentinvention and the weight relationships mentioned above, is in the range1/50- 1/30 of the time from first rebound to standing still in anapplication having the same armature 8 acting directly against the valvebody arrangement 15. Thereto the height of rebound/amplitude will besignificantly reduced, based on the present invention and the weightrelationships mentioned above, having a height of rebound in the range1/10-⅕ of the height of rebound in an application having the samearmature 8 acting directly against the valve body arrangement 15.Thereto the rebound frequency is significantly increased. All togetherentails a distinct change of state and the change of state leakage willin this context become negligible or entirely eliminated, and thereby noperceivable negative effects will be generated in the control pressurechannel 5.

In connection with the multi-way valve 1 is about to change from theactive stat to the inactive state the following will happen. When theelectrically controlled device 6 is deactivated, i.e. the power to thedrive member 7 is switched off, the armature 8 will start itsdisplacement from the active position to the inactive position. Duringthe acceleration of the armature from stand still, and the effect of thedrive member 8 dies away, the drive body 17 keeps the valve bodyarrangement 15 in the active position during the expansion of the springmember 18. At the time the drive body 17 starts its displacement fromthe active position to the inactive position, the armature 8 has gaineda significant speed that entails that the acceleration of the drive body17 from stand still is much higher than the initial acceleration of thearmature 8. This entails in its turn that the valve body arrangement 15is admitted to return from the active position to the inactive positionmuch quicker. Thus, a distinct change of state and the change of stateleakage will in this context become negligible or entirely eliminated,and thereby no perceivable negative effects will be generated in thecontrol pressure channel 5.

According to a preferred embodiment, as is disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3,the valve body arrangement 15 comprises a first valve body 19 arrangedin said first control fluid channel 11 and a second valve body 20arranged in said second control fluid channel 13. Said first valve body19 is in the disclose embodiment separated from said second valve body20. The multi-way valve 1 is thereby configured by means of the movementof the armature 8 from the inactive position to the active position todisplace the first valve body 19 to an active position where the firstcontrol fluid channel 11 is closed and to displace the second valve body20 to an active position where the second control fluid channel 13 isopen. More precisely the drive body 17 acts against the first valve body19 that in its turn acts against the second valve body 20. In thisembodiment, where the valve body arrangement 15 is constituted by twomutually disconnected valve bodies 19 and 20, respectively, it ispreferred that the drive body 17 is located at such a distance from thesecond (furthest) valve body 20 such that the first (nearest) valve body19 cannot be in contact with the drive body 17 as well as the secondvalve body 20, when the armature 8 is located in the inactive position.Depending on the orientation of the multi-way valve the first valve body19 may rest against the drive body 17 or against the second valve body20, or lying loose between the drive body 17 and the second valve body20. This entails that the armature 8 and the drive body 17 has time togain speed, and thereby momentum, before the second valve body 20 isrammed/hit, speeding up the change of state of the valve bodyarrangement.

Preferably the first valve body 19 and the second valve body 20,respectively, are spherical. According to an alternative embodiment thefirst valve body 19 and/or the second valve body 20 may present atruncated cone shape. According to another alternative embodiment thefirst valve body 19 and/or the second valve body 20 may present oblongbasic shape having semi spherical ends, like a piece of rod havingrounded ends. The advantage of having spherical valve bodies is thatthey are allowed to turn freely in all directions and in practice aspherical body takes a new position each time the valve body contactsits corresponding seat. This entails that the valve body as well as theseat will be loaded and will wear evenly. Spherical valve bodies of veryhigh quality are relatively cheap to manufacture in relation tonon-spherical valve bodies.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 that disclose a second embodiment of themulti-way valve 1. Only differences in relation to the other embodimentswill be described.

In this embodiment the valve body arrangement 15 is constituted by acombined member. The first valve body 19 and the second valve body 20 ofthe valve body arrangement 15 are connected to and jointly displaceablewith each other. In a non-disclosed embodiment the first valve body 19and the second valve body 20 are connected directly to each other, likean eight. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 the first valve body 19and the second valve body 20 are connected indirectly to each other bymeans of an intermediate rod 21, like a dumbbell. In these embodiments,in which the valve body arrangement 15 is constituted by an integratedbody, it is preferred that the drive body 17 is located at a distancefrom the valve body arrangement 15 when the armature 8 is located in theinactive position. This entails that the armature 8 and the drive body17 has time to gain speed, and thereby momentum, before they ram/hitsthe valve body arrangement 15, speeding up the change of state of thevalve body arrangement.

Preferably the armature 8 comprises in the free end thereof a cavity 22housing the drive body 17 and the spring member 18. The cavity 22 mayfor instance be a boring in the armature 8, as is disclosed in FIGS. 2and 3, or be provided by means of a sleeve 23 that is attached to andforms part of the armature 8, as is disclosed in FIG. 4. The cavity 22is designed in such a way that the drive body 17 is kept in the cavity22 when the armature 8 is in the inactive position.

According to an alternative embodiment, see FIG. 5 that discloses athird embodiment of the multi-way valve 1, the spring member 18 isconnected to the armature 8 and the drive body 17 is connected to thespring member 18, for instance by having the outermost spring turn/turnspressed onto a pin 24 of the armature and onto a spring 25 of the drivebody 17, respectively. According to another alternative embodiment, seeFIG. 6 that discloses a forth embodiment of the multi-way valve 1, thedrive body 17 is constituted by a rod that is telescopically arranged ina bore 26 of the armature 8. The spring member 18 is located at thebottom of the bore 26. Other equivalent solutions are conceivable aswell.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above andshown in the drawings, which primarily have an illustrative andexemplifying purpose. This patent application is intended to cover alladjustments and variants of the preferred embodiments described herein,thus the present invention is defined by the wording of the appendedclaims and the equipment may be modified in all kinds of ways within thescope of the appended claims.

It shall also be pointed out that all information about/concerning termssuch as above, below, upper, lower, etc., shall be understood/read withthe equipment oriented in accordance with the figures, having thedrawings oriented in such a way that the indexing can be read in acorrect way. Thus, similar terms indicate only mutual relationships inthe shown embodiments, which relationships can be changed if theequipment according to the invention is provided with anotherconstruction/design.

It shall be pointed out that even if it is not explicitly stated that afeature from a specific embodiment can be combined with the features inanother embodiment, this shall be considered obvious when possible.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A multi-way valve for serving an actuatorfor axial displacement of an object, the multi-way valve comprises acontrol pressure channel (5) and is configured to communicate anadjustable control pressure via said control pressure channel (5), themulti-way valve (1) comprising: a first control fluid channel (11)extending between a first opening (12) and said control pressure channel(5), a second control fluid channel (13) extending between a secondopening (14) and said control pressure channel (5), a valve bodyarrangement (15) arranged in said first control fluid channel (11) andin said second control fluid channel (13), and an electricallycontrolled device (6) having a drive member (7) and a displaceablearmature (8), an entirety of the displaceable armature (8) beingdisplaceable back and forth under the effect of said drive member (7)between an inactive position and an active position, wherein themulti-way valve (1) is configured by means of the movement of thedisplaceable armature (8) from the inactive position to the activeposition to displace the valve body arrangement (15) to an activeposition where the first control fluid channel (11) is closed and thesecond control fluid channel (13) is open, and the electricallycontrolled device (6) further comprising a drive body (17) connected tosaid displaceable armature (8) and a spring member (18) arranged betweenthe displaceable armature (8) and said drive body (17), wherein thedrive body (17) is arranged in said first control fluid channel (11),the drive body (17) being configured to abut the valve body arrangement(15) and the spring member (18) being in a compressed state when thedisplaceable armature (8) is located in the active position.
 2. Themulti-way valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve bodyarrangement (15) is biased in the direction towards an inactive positionin which the second control fluid channel (13) is closed and the firstcontrol fluid channel (11) is open.
 3. The multi-way valve according toclaim 2, wherein the first control fluid channel (11) is constituted bya control fluid outlet channel, and the first opening (12) isconstituted by a control fluid outlet.
 4. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 2, wherein the second control fluid channel (13) is constitutedby a control fluid inlet channel, and the second opening (14) isconstituted by a control fluid inlet.
 5. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 2, wherein the second opening (14) is configured to beconnected to a control fluid source (HP), and wherein the first opening(12) is configured to be connected to a control fluid sink (LP).
 6. Themulti-way valve according to claim 2, wherein the displaceable armature(8) in the free end thereof comprises a cavity (22) housing said drivebody (17) and said spring member (18).
 7. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 1, wherein the first control fluid channel (11) is constitutedby a control fluid outlet channel, and the first opening (12) isconstituted by a control fluid outlet.
 8. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 7, wherein the second control fluid channel (13) is constitutedby a control fluid inlet channel, and the second opening (14) isconstituted by a control fluid inlet.
 9. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 7, wherein the second opening (14) is configured to beconnected to a control fluid source (HP), and wherein the first opening(12) is configured to be connected to a control fluid sink (LP).
 10. Themulti-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the second control fluidchannel (13) is constituted by a control fluid inlet channel, and thesecond opening (14) is constituted by a control fluid inlet.
 11. Themulti-way valve according to claim 10, wherein the second opening (14)is configured to be connected to a control fluid source (HP), andwherein the first opening (12) is configured to be connected to acontrol fluid sink (LP).
 12. The multi-way valve according to claim 1,wherein the second opening (14) is configured to be connected to acontrol fluid source (HP), and wherein the first opening (12) isconfigured to be connected to a control fluid sink (LP).
 13. Themulti-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the displaceable armature(8) in the free end thereof comprises a cavity (22) housing said drivebody (17) and said spring member (18).
 14. The multi-way valve accordingto claim 1, wherein the spring member (18) is constituted by a helicalspring.
 15. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the valvebody arrangement (15) comprises a first valve body (19) arranged in saidfirst control fluid channel (11) and a second valve body (20) arrangedin said second control fluid channel (13), wherein the multi-way valve(1) is configured by means of the movement of the displaceable armature(8) from the inactive position to the active position to displace thefirst valve body (19) to an active position in which the first controlfluid channel (11) is closed and to displace the second valve body (20)to an active position in which the second control fluid channel (13) isopen.
 16. The multi-way valve according to claim 15, wherein the firstvalve body (19) is spherical.
 17. The multi-way valve according to claim15, wherein the second valve body (20) is spherical.
 18. The multi-wayvalve according to claim 1, wherein the electrically controlled device(6) is constituted by an electro magnetic device.
 19. The multi-wayvalve according to claim 18, wherein the drive member (7) of the electromagnetic device (6) is constituted by a coil.
 20. An actuator for axialdisplacement of an object, wherein the actuator comprises a multi-wayvalve (1) according to claim 1.